Mumbai High Court Extends Clean Fuel Deadline For City Bakeries Amid Monsoon And Digging Delays
Mumbai’s struggle to make its beloved bakeries cleaner just got a breather. The Bombay High Court has extended the deadline for 311 bakeries still using coal or wood-fired ovens to switch to cleaner fuels like LPG, PNG, or electric ovens. Originally set for July 8, the new deadline is now July 28. The court’s decision follows a petition by bakery owners who argued that they faced logistical hurdles, especially due to the monsoon and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s restrictions on road digging.
The Bombay Bakers Association (BBA) defended its members, stating many bakeries had applied for connections from Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) but were stalled due to the BMC’s refusal to permit road excavation during the rains. While the BBA insisted this policy hampered timely transitions, BMC officials pushed back, saying no gas connection was held up solely because of digging permissions. Officials clarified that while road digging is restricted during monsoon, exceptions can be considered post-season, especially since MGL’s gas lines cannot be placed in regular ducts.
This controversy began after a January 9 court order led to the BMC issuing mandatory transition notices to 573 bakeries. So far, 46 have completed the switch and 28 are midway through the process. One bakery has shut down, and 187 had already been compliant before the rule was enforced. This leaves 311—or 54%—still operating on coal or wood.
The BMC estimates the cost of conversion ranges between ₹10–20 lakh, depending on the size of the unit. However, a central government scheme offers a ₹1 crore loan with a ₹10 lakh subsidy to ease the financial load. MGL has surveyed and confirmed that PNG connections are technically possible for 97 more bakeries and has committed to extending the pipelines up to the bakeries at its own expense. Bakery owners, however, will need to pay a security deposit.
With the deadline now extended and BMC signaling flexibility after the monsoon, Mumbai’s traditional bakery scene has a short window to fire up cleaner ovens or face penalties down the line.
